Fluid operated pump for wells



Oct. l0, 1933. G, w. CANFIELD FLUID OPERATED PUMP FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 21. 1931 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 f UNIT-ED "('STTES" PATENT cetacei y lingame U FLUID OFERATED PUMP Foa WELLS George Wallace Canfield, Menlo Park, Calif.,

deceased Application February 21, 1931.. serial No. 517,535 6 Claims. (Cl, 1034-52) This invention relates to a uid operated pump particularly adapted forv use in oil wells, deep water wells, and the like. Thev invention is primarily directed to a fluid operated pump in which air or other .fluid under pressure is utilized.

The invention is also directed toward a method ofV pumpingwells by the use of pressurefluid suchv as compressed air Vor gas, one of the characteristics of the method being that there is subfib' stantially no interminglingof pressure'fluid and liquid being pumped.

In order tofacilitate understandingA of this invention,'the inventionwill be more particularly described as it pertains to a'pump for yuse in theV (T recovery of oil from' deep wells.'`

Although the useof compressed gases toV facilitate the removal ofl oilfrom'deep wells'hasbeen described heretofore and many devices emp1oy *Y ing the so'cvalled gas lift method have'been ex-A -ZCLtensively used, the prior devices and methods have had several material disadvantages. 4In these prior systems and pumps, the pressure iiuid or gas has generally been jetted into the body of l, oil in the formrof ne bubbles so as kto produce a mixture ,ofr oil and gas which, by'lreason of its buoyancy, is carried upwardly to the ground surface. ,Obviously,-this method requires a very large volume of gas as compared to the volume x of the oil recoveryand the necessity -of-` supplying such quantities of gas at the high pressuresv necessary in deep Wells, entails expensive` equipment and high operating c osts'.' Furthermore, the number of variables encountered,gsuch as pressures,

, 5 character of the oil" being handled, temperature changes, etc., render eiiicient operation very kdiiiicult and positive functioningof a gas lift almost pumped bythe use of compressed-air or gas with.-v

out encountering the difliculties experienced heretofore. o

It is an object of this invention to discloseand provide means for pumping wells by means of compressed air or gas whereby the consumption of gas is minimized. Y

Another object of this'invention is todisclose and provide a uid operated pump which is posi-- tive inaction and efiicient in operation. 'g

v Another object is to disclose and provide means for pumping oili Vwells with compressed gases wherein the gases arenot intimately intermingled with the oil being recovered.

A still further object is todisclose and provide a iiuidoperated 4pump which is automatic in operation.A

Another object is to disclose and provide a deep .well iiuid loperated. pump in which the variables of' pressure changes and changes in chariaoter of the oil being handled areautomatically compensated for.`

f Other objects, uses and' advantages Vof rthis invention will become apparent from the following description of one preferred-.form of they apparatus, itbeing'understood that the inventionv is not vlimited to therspecic form describ'edin detail Yhereafter but instead embrace'sfall pumps or devices 'operating in -'substantially the same manner, and embodying the invention yhereinafter disclosed.' f

1 In describing the' invention, reference will 'be' had to theappended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsection through a sec-` tion of well, tubing in association with the fluid operated pump'ernbraced by this invention.

Fig. 2` is a transverse section takenY along theplane indicated at 2 2 in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 isa modified form of float which may be employed. I Fig. 4 isr an'enlarged longitudinal section taken through a portion of the valve control mechanism use'diin the pump shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawing, the tubing 1 extend'- ing into the casing or into the liquid body within the well may be provided with a valve assembly generally indicated at 2. Said valve assembly may comprise asubstantially circular body por-v,

tion 3 adapted to be threadedlyl connected Yas indicated at Lland 5 to thel tubing sections 1 and 6. The valve assembly` 2 preferably includes two check valves adapted to successivelyact on fluid passing throughsaid tubing so as to permit up- 10Q ward flow of fluidthroughthe'jtubing and to check any downward flow.

As shown, the body portion 3 may be provided f. with transversepartitions 'Tand y8, each one vof said partitions including valve vseats adapted 1,05V

to receive ball valves 9 yand 10 respectively. For purposes of simplicity, transverse pins 11 and 12` are shown positioned vabove the-ball valves, 9 and 10 respectively for retaining said ball valves in operative relation with their seats.- 'A laterally 110-v extending port member 13 may be operatively connected to the valve assembly 2 as by means of the threaded connection 14, the laterally extending port thus formed preferably entering the valve assembly 2 at a point intermediate the check valves 9 and 10. Y The port member 13 may be connected as by means of a connecting member 15 with a cylindrical member 16 adapted to form a displacement chamber. The opposite end of the displacement chamber 16 is preferably provided with a valve adapted to selectively ccnnect the chamber 16 either with an exhaust port or with a source of pressure fluid.

As shown, the upper end ofthe displacement chamber 16 may be provided with a head 17` adapted to slidably receive a sliding valve 18 in a longitudinal bore 19 formed in the head 17. The bore 19 may be provided with a stop or shoulder 20 and with an adjustably positioned stop 21 threadedly connected to the end of the head 17 as indicated at 22. The head17 may be provided with an exhaust port 23 leading either to the space Within the well and exterior of the tubing l or it may be connected by suitable conduit means, not shown, with the atmosphereor some point within the well above the position of the pump. The head 17 may also 'be provided with an .inlet port 24 operatively connected as by means of a member 25 with a source of pressure fluid vsuch as compressed air or gas.

As shown, the connecting member 25 is adapted to place the intake port 24 in communication with a pressure fluid supply line 26 adjacent to the tubing 1 and leading to the source of fluid pressure, not shown, on the surface of the ground. 'Ihe tubing l and the pressure iiuid conduit 26 may be clamped together as by means of the clamping members 27 and 28 adapted to encircle the tubing 1 and the conduit 26, the clamping members 27 and 28 being held together in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of the bolts 29.

The valve member 18 slidably positioned within the bore 19 of the head 17 may be provided with suitable ports, as for example the ports 30 adapted to selectively'place the chamber 16 in communication with either the exhaust port 23 (as is shown in Fig. 1) or with the source of pressure fluid through the intaker port 24. The sliding valve member 18 may be provided at its lower end with a spider 3l having connected theretoY a push rod 32 extending longitudinally through the displacement cylinder 16, the lower end of the push rod 32 being slidably carried in a guide member 33 attached or formed in the port member 13. The push rod 32 is preferably provided with stop members such as the stop members 34 and 35.

The push rod 32 between the stop portions 34 and 35-is preferably provided with a iioat or piston 36, which is loosely slidably carried on the push rod 32. As shown, the float piston 36 is provided with a central bore Asomewhat greater in diameter than the diameter of the push rod 32. The upper and lower faces of the float piston 36 may be provided with seats 37 and 38 around the central bore Vso as to'permit the inclined stop members 34 and 35 to act as valves and become seated' on the seats 37 and 38 respectively when the float piston 36 moves along the rod 32 into contact with said stop portions 34 and 35.

`As shown in Fig. 1, the cylindrical surface of ythe iioat piston 36 is corrugated by means of a plurality of annular depressions 39, these corrugations tending to prevent the piston from stickling in the cylindrical displacement chamber 16,

The stop member 21 carried by the end of the head 17 may be provided with a mandrel 40 whereas the slide valve member 18 may be pro- Y vided with a ring 41 carrying downwardly extending spring iingers 42 and 43 adapted to engage the head of the mandrel when the slide valve 18 reaches the upper end'of its stroke.

The device described hereinabove when placed in a well and preferably below the normal low or other liquid level within the well, operates as follows: The liquid will enter by means of the tubing 6 into the valve assembly 2 through the check valve 10. A portion of the liquid will rise into the tubing 1 through the check valve 9 while a portion of the oil or other liquid will pass out through the valve assembly 2 and port member 13 into the ldisplacement chamber 16. The iioat piston 36 will thus be raised by the liquid until contact is made between the piston iioat valve seat 37 and the stop member 34 on the push rod 32. Further entry of liquid into the displacement cylinder 16 will cause the piston float 36 to rise and move the slide valve member 18, thus discontinuing the communication ofthe upper portion A of the chamber A16 with the exhaust port 23.

As the slide valve 18 moves upwardly, the yielding spring fingers 42'and 43 carried thereby slide over the mandrel 40 and retain the slidevalve in position at its upper endof thestroke. Concurrently the ports 30 of theslide valve 18 formY communication between the upper portion A of the displacement chamber 16 with the sourcev of fluid pressure suchas the conduit 26 through the intake port 24. The pressure fluid from the supply line 26 is thus permitted to act upon the upper surface of the piston float 36. The pressure ofthe pressure iiuid in the line 26.is preferably suflicient to overcome the fluid pressure in the lower portion B of the kchamber 16. The piston float 36 is thus forced downwardlyr displacing the fluid which had risen into the chamber 16 through the connecting member 15, port member 13 and check valver9 into the tubing 1.

When the piston iioat 36 approaches the lowermost point of travel, it Will contact `with the stop 35,thus imparting longitudinal motion to the push rod 32,which in turn moves the slide valve member 18 out of engagement with the mandrel 40 causing the ports 30 ofthe slide 125 valve member 18 to again come into operative relation with the exhaust port 23.

It will thus be seen that substantially no intermixture of pressure fluid and oil or liquid being pumped, occurs in thedisplacement chamber 16 130 and that a volume of compressed gas will displace an equivalent volume of oil or other liquid.`

Means such as the mandrel40 and yielding spring lingers 42Y and 43 maintain the slide valve in such position as to permit the pressure fluid 135 from the supply line 26 to act upon the oat piston 36 and displace substantially all of the oil Within the chamber 16. It is to be understood that any other equivalent means adapted to maintain the slide valve 18 immovable during the movement of the float piston 36 may be used.

It is obvious that the'depth from which oil may be pumped in the manner described hereinabove is only limitedV by the pressure of gas or air available. It is also obvious that a number of these devices may be used at different levels along a single string of tubing, operating as a multiple stage installation whereby lower pressures may be employed. In such arrangement, the displacement chamber 16 would be spaced along the reaches ,the surface.-

5j 'Instead 'of 'employing the. 'hollow'iioat `piston 36 showninFig. Vlv anyfequivalent-disc or'ipiston may be used. As shown yirriig. 3the`oat-piston may comprise a plurality ofspac'erelem'ents ,50 suitably held together.withdiexible-cup members 51 between said spacer elements, this assembly forming a piston providedqwith an inner bore adapted to loosely encircle the push rod 32. Furthermore, the stop members 34 and 35 may be adv justably positioned along the push rod 32 so as to permit accurate timing of the `valve movement. In cases where considerable gas pressure is produced in a well, such gas pressure being still insuicient to flow the well as in ordinary practice, the operation of the intake and exhaust ports could be reversed allowing the chamber i6 to take Vgas for operation from the well casing itself and discharging the same to the surface through the gas transmission line. In other words, the line 26 could be operatively connected to the exhaust port 23 and the intake port 24 be permitted to take gas from the well casing. v

Devices made in accordance with this invention lend themselves to easy and economical installation and operation. u They are more reliable and uniform in operation than the customary gas lift and require much smaller volumes of compressed air or gas than priork devices. Furthermore, iiuid operated pumps made in accordance with this invention handle more oil with the same size of equipment and are capable of accurate control to suit the maximum production of the well.

While the method and a particular form of apparatus for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto but instead embraces all changes, variations and substitutions coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a well pumping device, the combination of a straight string of tubing in a well hole, a valve assembly in said tubing, said valve assembly comprising two check valves adapted to successively act on fluid in said tubing to check any downward flow, a vertically disposed displacement cylinder in parallel relation to said tubing, said cylinder being provided with a liquid conduit at its lower end in operative communication with said valve assembly at a point between said check valves, a pressure fluid line for supplying pressure Huid to the top of said cylinder, an exhaust port for the top of said cylinder, and a single means for alternately connecting said cylinder With the exhaust port and with said pressure fluid supply line, said means being actuated'by change in liquid level within said cylinder.

2. In a Well pumping device, the combination of a vertically disposed displacement cylinder, va liquid conduit in communication with the lower end of said cylinder, an upper head carried by said cylinder, means for supplying iluid under pressure to said head, an exhaust port in said head, a slide valve in said head and movable longitudinally of said cylinder, said slide valve being v adapted to alternately connect said'cylinder with said pressure iiuid supply means and exhaust port, a push rod connected to said slide valve andr longitudinally movable in said cylinder, stops Vcarried by said push rod, and float means slidably carried on said push rod in said cylinder and adapted to be moved by changes in Aliquidlevel :in

said vcylinder and tor contact with said wstops' to,

y ctuate said push rod and slide valve toselectively connect. said cylinder with said .means forsupplyingfluid under pressure and exhaust port.

' In a device for .pumping wells, the combination 'of l a vertically disposed displacement cylinder, :a vliquid conduit in communicationwith the lowerendof said cylinder,.an.upper head carried by .said cylinder,"means for supplying vfludunder pressure to said head, an exhaust port in said head, a longitudinally movable slide valve in said head, said slide valve being adapted to alternately connect said cylinder with said pressure fluid supply means and exhaust port, a push rod connected to said slide valve and extending into said cylinder, stopsv carried by said push rod, a piston float slidably mounted onsaid push rodbetween kcomprising two check kvalves adapted to successively act on fluid to check any downward flow carried by said tubing, a vertically disposed displacement cylinder, means for connecting the lower end of said cylinder with said valve assembly at a point between said check valves, an

upper head carried by said cylinder, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said head, an exhaust port in said head, a longitudinally movable slide valve in said head, said slide valve being adapted to alternately connect said cylinder with said pressure fluid supply means and exhaust port, a push rod connected to said slide valve and extending into said cylinder, spaced 'stops carried by said push rod, and float means slidably mounted on said push rod between said stops and adapted to be moved by change in liquid level within said cylinder for actuating said push rod and slide valve by coming into contact with stops carried by said rod.

5. A device adapted to be inserted into well holes for pumping wells, consisting of a vertically disposed displacement cylinder, a single liquid'inlet and outlet port in the lower end of said cylinder, means for supplying fluid pressure to the top of said cylinder, an exhaust port in operative communication with the top of said f cylinder, a movable valve positioned in the upper end of said cylinder for alternately connecting said cylinder with the exhaust port and with said pressure iiuid supply means, a rod attached to said movable valve, said rod extendingaxially through said cylinder, longitudinally spaced stops carried by said rod, and means slidably carried on said rod within said cylinder, said means being adapted to be moved by changes inliquid level within said cylinder into contact with said stops to actuate said rod and valve.

6. A Well pumping "device comprising a string of tubing adapted to be positioned in a well hole; a valve assembly carried by said tubing, said valve assembly including two vertically spaced check valves adapted to successively act on iiuid in said tubing to checkany downwardl flow therein; a displacement cylinder in parallel relation to said tubing and extending upwardly from the level of said valve assembly to a point thereabove; conduit means operatively connecting the lower end of said cylinder with said tubing at a movable valve means, said rod extending axially through said cylinder, spaced stops carried by said rod; and means slidably carried on said rod Within said cylinder, said means being adapted to be moved 'by changes in liquid levelrwithin said cylinder into-contact -With said stops to yactuate said rod and valve means and admit pressure fluid into said cylinder.

GEORGE WALLACE CANFIELD. 

